Jack Milner: Any doubts that Vars Vicky would not see out 1400m were dispelled last week after he went down narrowly to Paisley Park over that distance at the Vaal.
The winner is no slouch and is highly rated by both trainer Sean Tarry and jockey Lyle Hewitson. Stuart Pettigrew’s charge looked likely to hold off the Tarry runner and it was only in the dying stages that Paisley Park was able to get the upper hand.
An objection followed from the runner-up, but that was overruled, and the result was allowed to stand.
Vars Vicky will now attempt to go a touch further on Thursday when he lines up in Race 6, a MR 96 Handicap over 1450m on the Vaal Classic track.
The fact this race is around the turn should not hold any fears for punters Vars Vicky has won on the Inside track at Turffontein.
The draw can be an issue over this course and distance but there are only eight runners carded and Vars Vicky will jump from barrier No 5. Muzi Yeni has picked up the ride for the first time.
Yeni has actually jumped ship as he was on Your Pace Or Mine in the race won by Paisley Park, but it does look to be a shrewd move as Vars Vicky finished 1.50 lengths ahead of the Mike De Kock-trained Querari gelding and in any case, Your Pace Or Mine has been scratched.
The other contender was Rivonia Boulevard who is unbeaten in both runs over this distance, one of them at this track, but he is currently under medication and trainer Sean Tarry has scratched the son of Count Dubois.
On that basis, Vars Vicky looks a standout bet and a banker in all the exotics.
Mike and Adam Azzie saddle Futura filly Sweet Future in Race 8, a FM 84 Handicap over 1000m. She is well above average and despite shifting and returning “tied-up”, she still managed to thwart the challenge of the older and far more experienced Twelve Oaks, to whom she was conceding 2.5kg, by a neck.
She has only raced three times, and after going down narrowly to Afternoon Tea on debut over 1160m at Turffontein, she has notched up two successive victories. This will be her first run over 1000m, but she does seem to have the speed to be effective over the trip.
The only two dangers appear to be Mind Reader and Varina.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 4 Riccardo, 5 Deanagelo, 6 Global Town, 3 Curfew
Race 2: 13 Pecan Pie, 6 Miss Venezuela, 2 Ginseng, 1 Aflame
Race 3: 6 Flying Carpet, 7 Wolffs World, 2 Herodotus, 5 Castellano
Race 4: 4 Bebop, 9 Queen Bomi, 3 Lady Amherst, 2 Fort Anne
Race 5: 6 African Adventure, 8 Chitengo, 1 Barahin, 7 Glider Pilot
Race 6: 7 Vars Vicky, 2 Kayla’s Champ, 5 Rock The Globe, 3 In Cahoots
Race 7: 5 Winter Watch, 8 Sweet Sensation, 7 Slalom Queen, 4 Che Bella
Race 8: 1 Sweet Future, 5 Mind Reader, 2 Varina, 10 Showdown Kid
BEST BET
Race 6 No 7 Vars Vicky
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 5 Winter Watch
BEST SWINGER
Race 6 7×8
BIPOT
R108
Leg 1: 4, 5
Leg 2: 6, 13
Leg 3: 2, 6, 7
Leg 4: 3, 4, 9
Leg 5: 1, 6, 8
Leg 6: 7
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R192
Leg 1: 6, 13
Leg 2: 6, 7
Leg 3: 4, 9
Leg 4: 1, 6, 8
Leg 5: 7
Leg 6: 4, 5, 7, 8
Leg 7: 1, 5
PICK 6
R1680
Leg 1: 2, 5, 6, 7
Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 9
Leg 3: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 4: 7
Leg 5: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 6: 1, 2, 5
JACKPOT 1
R140
Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 9
Leg 2: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 3: 7
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
JACKPOT 2
R105
Leg 1: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 2: 7
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 5